Obligated or Grateful

The words we use daily have enormous power over our lives. Most of us use them without realizing that each word has an energy associated with it. When we say "joy," the energy of the word is positive, expansive, and overflowing. We can even associate it with the color yellow, and we can even visualize a dynamic, playful pattern, the sound of laughter, or even the smell of candy. Each of us will associate it with the various human senses, according to the experiences we've had and the interpretations we've made in our lives.

But when we say the word "effort," the energy of the word is heavier. We can see it as brown. We may even feel more tired and feel resistance when saying it. It's a word associated with difficulty.

We can observe this in our own bodies. When we're happy, our bodies feel light, move easily, and flow. But when we're doing something with effort, our bodies feel heavy, stiff, and our actions are slower.

If we pay attention to the words we use daily, we can notice how we nourish our daily energy. Whether we use a lot words that drain our energy or nourish it. And this use isn't limited to communicating with others, but also to communicating with ourselves, our thoughts.

When we use the expression, “I have to do this or that,” an obligation is associated.

And everything we're "obligated to" creates in us resistance and difficulty in doing it. We don't do it with pleasure and joy. If we replace this expression with "I'm going to do this or that," it creates assertiveness, action, and effectiveness. All the weight and difficulty disappear.

The use of the very portuguese word "obrigado" - translated literally as “obligated”, meaning “thank you” - which we use so frequently in our daily lives to express gratitude, without, however, realizing that the energy associated with the word itself isn't as positive as it seems. The energy associated with the word is heavy, one of effort. "Obrigado" has its origin from being in debt to someone for a provided service, being "bound to" by a favor someone did to us, being "obligated" to reciprocate. Perhaps this way, the energy established between two people isn't the best. The idea of ​​debt between two people creates a link with a heavier energy, which creates resistance and difficulty. But if we replace this word for "grato", meaning grateful, the energy that emerges is much more positive and light because it comes from the heart, from being grateful for the favor. You're not "obligated" to reciprocate, but rather "grateful" for the kindness. The connection between two people is through the heart, and gratitude is experienced with pleasure, not out of obligation.

There are many examples; we just need to pay attention. The words we use have such great power over us and our moods that they influence our entire attitude toward life. The frequent use of the word "obrigado" creates in us an attitude of doing everything in life out of obligation rather than pleasure. And not only does it affect us, but we also demand this obligation from others and from life itself. It's important to recognize that no one is obligated to do anything. Each person is free to reciprocate as they feel they should. When we realize this, everything that arises in our reality becomes a gift. And everything we give to others is without expectation of return. It's given from the heart. The very act of giving nourishes the heart, even when the other person doesn't reciprocate. We enter a new form of giving, free from any obligation. Pleasure is experienced from the act of giving itself. This is where generosity is experienced. Being generous with others is giving to others without any expectation of reciprocation. And the gift goes far beyond material things. The very act of forgiving someone (for-giving) indicates generosity. Giving the other person the opportunity to make mistakes, to be imperfect. In this state, we give freedom to the other person but also to ourselves, freeing ourselves from any hurt we may harbor, for it's hurt that prevents us from forgiving. We're not only generous to the other, but also to ourselves. Giving to the other is giving to ourselves.

When we begin to live our lives with an attitude of gratitude, the world changes around us, because everything that happens to us, from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, we experience it with gratitude. Whether it's a sunny or rainy day, any gesture, a smile, a look, a word, anything that happens to us, even when it seems less good, when we're in an attitude of gratitude, we become open, receptive, positive, and at the heart level. In this state, we can see beyond appearances and gain a higher perspective on situations. We understand the lessons we've experienced, even when difficult, because everything is loved in this state, the good and the bad. We realize that the bad is also a great learning experience, as it makes us stronger to overcome it. And it's sometimes along this path that life makes us stop to become aware of something we hadn't noticed until that moment. It realigns us to return to the path of the heart, through gaining consciousness.

Being grateful is a daily learning experience. It places us in a new, broader perspective, with open arms to the world.

It makes us more humble. We realize that the world doesn't revolve around us, and that it doesn't need to fulfill our every whim. We're no longer at the service of our ego—that part of us that still is a spoiled, fearful, insecure, and dissatisfied child, wanting all its desires met. It brings us to peace with ourselves and with life in general. It's in this state that true union with the universe, with the divine, is established.